Automatic coaster



March 3, 1931. 1 HEBERT 1,794,709

` AUTOMATIC coAsTER Filed Oct. 26. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Zitti/72.2" zZ/625.9777,

A ftorney March 3, 1.931. F, J HEBERT 1,794,709

AUTOMATIC COASTER Filed om. 26, 192s 4 sheets-sheet 2 Inventor y By A ttorney March 3, 1931. I f F L HEBE'RT 1,794,709

AUTOMAT I C COASTER Filed Oct. 26. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 4:9 I l 9 1 v i l/ J0 'I i Nr?? /44'1 Inventor Q By @um ma..

Y .4 ttorney March 3, 1931. F 1 HEBERT 1,794,709

AUTOMATIC coAs'rER [n ven tor By @Mao/3h Attorney Patented Mar. 3, 1,931

` FELIX J. HEBERT, or PORTAPLTHUR, TEXASv "AUTOMATIC oo AsTER.

Application led October 26, 1929..-V Seria1lNo.1402,i742.

A still further ob` ect of the invention is to provide a mechanical toy embodying an in clined loop track, an elevator positioned intermediate the ends of the track together with vmeans controllablev by la car traveling by gravity on thetrack for actuating the elevator, in such a manner that when the car runs from the bottom of the track or to the elevator :the elevator will be automatically *op-1 erated to raise the car to the upper end ofthe track to be discharged therefrom onthe'track, said elevator remaining in its raised position until the car has traveled a'predetermined distance yon the track, whereby means controllable by the car will release the elevator to permit a descent of the elevator so that the elevator will b e at the lowermost end of the track in ample time for receiving the car thereon after it' hasv completed its travel around' the track.- n

A still further object of this invention is to provide a mechanical toy of the character abovementioned, which isV comparatively s im-v ple in construction, will afford amusement to t young and old alike, will be inexpensive, and which may be readily transported from place to place. y Y Y f Other objects and advantages Yof the inven tion will become apparent during a study of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is atop cal toy embodying tion. j

Figure 2 is aside elevation thereof. Figure 3 1s a fragmentary detail view looking at one side of the elevator disposed between the ends of the track.

' Figure 4 is a side elevation of the mecha# nism for raising and lowering Athe elevator.v

the features of myinventhe upper or plan view of mechaniv f f* Figure 5is'a fragmentary detail view partly in'sect-ion and partlyin elevation for more fully illustrating a clutch mechanism embodyingy one of the yfeatures of this invention. Figure 6 is a side elevation-of the control disc. t Y

Figure 7 vis a perspective view of the release lever for controlling the control disc.

lith reference more in 4detail to the drawings', it will be seen that my mechanical toy l comprises a circular base or platform 5 and inclined looped track G mounted on the upper end of supports 7 suitably secured to and rising from ythe base or platform 5. `As shown to advantage in Figure 3, between the adjacent end of the track 6 and supported on vthe platformA 5 is a suitable elevator structure designated generally by the reference character E. v Y y The elevator structure E comprises four posts or uprights 8, the lower ends of which posts are receivable 'in sprockets 9 rising from the base 5. These posts 8 are of a height to extend a suitable distance beyond higher end of the track 6, and a cover plate 10 atv each corner thereof is secured to each `of the posts 8 as at 11. The elevatorper se consists of a track section 12, `which section of track 12 is of a length substantially equal to the distance between the ends of the track 6. vOn each side of the rails of the track section 6, and adjacent the ends of the rails, the sai-drails of the track section 12 have secured thereto in anyl desired manner vertical sleeves 13, ythere being one sleeve 13 for each upright or post 8, andthe sleeves D 13 are slidable on the respective postsS; Itis preferable, that the sleeves 13 be so fixed at the ends. of the track section 12 that thc track section will be disposed ata suitable in` clinc, the incline being in the same general direction as the inclineof the track 6 `as will become apparent from ak study of Figure 3. j The elevator member is designated generally by the reference character 14 and this elevator member 14 is in the vnature of a suitl 9 able frame, through which the track section 12 extends, the intermediate portion of the track section resting on the lower cross bar 15 of said elevator frame. Secured to the upper cross bar of the frame 14: or elevator O0' ure 5.

as it may be termed, is one end of a cable as at 16. The cable is designa-ted by the reference character 17 and this cable is trained over a pulley 18 rotatably mounted in a suitable bracket 19 fastened to the top plate 10. l`he cable 17 then extends downwardly and is adapted to be wound upon a drum 2.0 the other end of the cable being anchoredl to the drum as at 21. rlhe manner of mountingand the operation of this drum will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

Arranged on the platform 5 and` Within the confines of the track 6, and suitably secured to and rising from the base is a pair of spaced parallel plates 22. These plates 22 rise vertically from the base 5 and a relatively short shaft 23 is rotatably supported between the plates 22 adjacent one end of the plates; Disposed about the shaft 23 between the plates 22 is a band spring 24, one end of which band spring 24 is anchored to the shaft 2,3 and the other end anchored as at 25 to a cross-bar 26v connecting the upper portion of the plates 22 adjacent said one end of the plates. Also mounted on thev shaft 23 between vthe spring 24 and one of the plates 22v and Vadapted for rotation with said shaft is a relatively large gear'wheel27. rThe shaft 23 is also provided toV one side of the gear wheel 27' with a ratchet wheel 28 also adapted to rotate with the shaft and a dog 28 is pivoted on an adjacent side of the gear wheel 27 for engagement with the teetliof the ratchet wheel` 28. A suitable spring 29 is anchored at one end to an adjacent'side of the wheel 27 and the free end of the spring bears against the dog 28 for maintaining the free end of the dog in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel shown to advantage in Figure 4; On one end thereofl the shaft 23 may be squared or otherwise formed as at' 30'whereby a key or other actuating element may be operatively associated with said one end of the shaft for rotating Vthe shaft in one direction against the action of the spring 24.

ik second horizontally disposed Vshaft 31 has ene end thereof extending through a suitable opening formed in one of the plates 22, said one end of the shaft extending between said plates and the other end of the shaft mounted in a suitable bearing 32,-ormed on the upper end of a bearing standard or bracket VThis bracket 33. is jmounted on the platform 5 and is disposed. ii\fspaced re`4 lation to said one plate 22; The drum 20, hereinbefore referred to, is rotatably and slidably mounted on a reduced portion31 of the shaft 31v as shown to vadvantage in Fig The drum 2O has one end thereof adapted to abut the vshoulder 34 formed on the sha-ft 3l, whilethe hub 20 `of said drum 20 at the opposite end of the drum has an eX- 'Lended portion 35 whichV extended portion merges into an outstanding flangeV 36 on the outer end thereof.

In order that the drum 20 may be readily and operatively associated with the shaft 31 for rotation with t-he shaft I provide a novel clutch mechanism embodying an angle bar 37 having one flange thereof secured toy one end of' the drum 2() by welding or in any other kdesired manner, the other flange of the angle bar 37 extending outwardly from Vsaid one end of the drum and constituting a stop Vadapted` to engage an abutment 38, which abutment 38 is in the nature of an arm eX- tending laterally from the shaft 31 adjacent the reduced end of the shaft as shown to advantage in Figure 5. f

It will be apparent that the abutment arm ofthe angle bracket 37 willionly engage with the stop arm 38 of the shaft 31 when that end of the drumis dis-posedv against the shoulder 34 of said shaft 31, orwhen the drum'is in that position shown in Figure 5". The other element of my improvedy clutch mechanism embodies means for moving the drum axially of the shaft 31v so that said' one end of the drum will abut the shoulder 34. This element of the clutch mechanism embodies a substantially V-shaped' frame 39't0 the end of' which frame 39fis secured al disc or collar 40fslidable on the'reduced end of the shaft31 between the bearing 32 and the flanged end 33 of the. hub'20 of tlie drum. For normally. urgingl the collar 40 against the flange 3G` there is providedI a retractile coil spring41, one ende' of which is anchored to the apex of the frame39 while the otherend is anchored' as at 42 to the bearing portion 32 of the-bear'- ing;` standard 33 as shown to advantage in Figure 5.

Rotativo power for the shaft 31 is derived from the fact that the shaft 31` on tha-tendY thereof disposed betweenV the platesv22-22 is formed with a. pinion 43 in mesh with the gear wheel 27 so that-'obviously rotation of the shaft 23 caused inthe well known manner by the unwinding ofthe spring 24 will impart rotation to said shaft 31. On its eX- treme end', and'V adjacent the pinion 43 said shaft 31' has secured thereto for rotation therewith a relatively large control disc 44. This disc 44'has provided at one point on its periphery a notch 45.

To'lock ,the shaft 31 vagainst rotation imparted thereto from rotation ofy thev shaft 23, Iprovide a control lever designated generally by the reference character 4'4. This control lever 44 is substantially of' U-shape configuration and has the crown portion thereof adjacent its extremity' rockably mounted in suitable brackets 45 secured to the` base 5'. One leg 46 of the U-shape controly Y control bracket is disposed adjacent one plate notch 45 rotation of the disc 44 is prevented,

resulting in the maintaining of the shaft 31 Y against rotation. For normally maintaining the locking member 48 in thev notch' 45 of the disc 44 I provide a` coil spring 49 anchored v at oneend to the leg 46 and .having its opposite end suitably anchored'as at 50 to the platform 5. i

AIt being assumed, that the shaft 23 -when the suitable application of a key or other actuating mediumV applied theretohas been manually rotatedin'one direction forwinding `the spring 24 to a taut condition and a suitable car designated generally bythe reference character B and of sufficient weight has traveled down the incline 6, and then the elevator member 14`is in alowered position so that the track section 12 lis in alignment .with the lower'end. of the track 6,`and the member or projection 48 is in the notch 45 of the controlv disc 44, the said car B aty its completion of travel will run onto the track section y12 with sufiicient force to strike against the leg 46 of the control or operating member l44 for rocking the member 44 Vthus releasing orvwithdrawing rthe projection 48 from its notch with vthefresult that the shaft 23 underaction ofthe spring 24 will rotate in an opposite direction and through the medium of the gear 27 meshing with the pinion 43 rotatesthe shaft 31, which in turn will revolve or'rotate the drum 20, the L- shaped member 37 having its lateral flange engaging the arm 38 of said shaft 31 and maintained in said engagement through thev medium Aofthe collar 40 urged against the flanged end. 36 of the'hub 20 through the medium ofthe spring 41 actingv upon Vthe frame 39 whereupon, the cable 17 will wind upon therevolving drum thus raising the elevator 144 and with the elevator 14 the track section 12 and car B now resting on said track section, the track section 12 now being v raised to moveinto alignment with the upper raised end of the track A. Manifestly, due to the inclination of the track section 12 the car by gravity will roll therefrom and on to the track 6 to travel by gravitydown said v'track 6l VThe car B now travels down the track 6 and at af'point intermediate the ends of the track willfengage with the upper end of a crank arm 49.disposed at a vpoint adjacentone side of the track 6 about diametricall'y opposite the' elevator E. The car thus striking against the upper end of the crank arm 49 will rock the crank shaft 50 thereof which crank shaft 50 is rockablyv able connection 53 with the-hub of the drum 20VA slide the drum upon the rreduced end of the shaft 31 thus disengaging `the lateral flange or arm of the L-shaped brackets 37 with the stop arm 38 of the shaft v31 where-' upon the drum 20 will Vbe enabled to rotate on the shaft 81 free of connection with the shaft;v This obviously will 'result in an unwinding of the cable 17, upon the drunr 20 which unwinding of the cable will be caused by the weight of the track section 12 mounted in the elevator frame 14, so that said track section 12 will be lowered to move into alignment with the lower endv of thetrack 6 in sufficient time to permit the car B at the terminal of its travel on the track 6y torun on to the track section 12. Obviously, when during the raising ofthe elevator, the car B is brought out of engagement with the arm 46 of the lever 44, said lever-will have been rocked through the medium ofthe spring 49 for again placing the projection 48`of the leg 47 into the notch 45 of said disc 44, the disc having completedone fullrevolution as have also the shaftsv 23 yand 31. This full complete revolution of the disk and shaft will require about thesame amount of time as is required for the car to travel from one end to the otherof the track, 'so' that completion of this one revolution will`take place at aboutr the same time the car B trav'- eling on the track G has come into contact with the crankarm 49-of the crank shaft 50. This being the case, apparently when the car B again moves onto the loweredtrack sectionv 12, the said ca1VB'will'-again strike the arm 46 and theiV operation' again 'repeated. y f

Itis preferable, kin'lorder topre'ventfthe i lli;

had.v A more detailed descriptionthereof" i inventiomit is'to beunderstood that the same is susceptible to certain changes in size, shape and the-materialsused and in the rearrangement of the several` elements comprising the invention as fall within the scope ofthe spirit ofthe invention asherein described and' of the claims forming a part of this speciication.

Having thus described: my invention, what I wish to claim; as. new is :f-

11. In a mechanical? toy of the class described, the combination ot inclined track, and a car running thereon, a vertically slidable elevator adapted toreceive the car, and means f Or actuating saidelevator, and means con reliable by the momentumof the car for releasing the first mentioned means. whereby said elevator may be alternately moved t0 both raised and: lowered position.

2;. InA a toyv ot theclass described, an inclinedtrack,l ai c aradapted tol travel by gravity over said track, a vertically slidable car receiving; elevator mounted between the adjacent` ends of said track, said elevator adapt ed to be normally disposed andretained. in a lowered position through the medium of its ownweight,means for actuating said elevator fjor-moving` saidelevator to a raised position, and means acti'iatableupon the passing;vv of said car-from." said track to said elevator for releasing the firstmentioned means whereby said elevator will be moved to a raised position. i

3;. In a toy of the class described, an inclined track, a car-adapted to travel by gravity over said track, a vertically slidable car receiving;A elevator mounted between the adjacent ends-fof said traclnsaidelevator adapted to be normally disposed and' retained in a lowered posit-ion: through the medium of its own weight,means for actuating said elevator for movingsaid elevator toa' raised position, and means actuatable upon; the passing;- of sai-d car from said track to said eleva-tor i torreleasingthe'ist mentioned; means where by said elevatorwill be moved to a raised. position, means for maintaining said cai' on said elevator during the upward travel of said elevator, `and means on said elevator i whereby when said elevator has reached the position through the medium of its own weigl'it, meansfor actuating said elevator for moving said elevator to a raised position, and means actuat-able upon the passing of said car froml said'` track to said elevator for re- -fleasing the first mentioned means whereby said elevator will be moved to a raised position, means for maintaining said car on said elevator during the upward travel of said elevator, and means on; said elevator whereby whensaid elevator hasreached the raisedy end of said track said car will move by gravity from said elevator onto the said track, and means for maintaining said elevator in a raised position,

5. In al toy of the class described, an inclined. track, a car adapted to travel by gra-v- Vity oversaid track, a vertically slidable car receiving elevator mounted between the adjacent ends of said track, said elevator adapt.- ed to be normally disposed and retained in a lowered position through the mediumot its own weight, means oractuating said elevator for movin-g said elevator to a raised position, and means` actuatable upon the passing of said car from saidI track to said elevator for releasing the first mentioned means whereby said elevator will be moved to a raised position, means for maintaining said car on said elevator during` the upward travel ot said elevator, and means on said elevator whereby when said elevator-has reached the raised end of said track said car will move by gravity from said elevator onto the said track, and means for maintaining said elevator in a raised positionand means controllable by the car in the path of movement of said car over said track for releasing sm'd elevator retaining means, whereby said elevator may be moved' to a lowered position for receiving said car at the completion of its travel over said track.

6. In a toy of the class described, an inclined track, a car adapted to travel over said track, a vertically slidable track section arranged betweenV adjacent ends ofthe iirst mentioned track and adapted to receive said car upon completionl otits travelv over said first mentioned track for raisingy said cai' to its initial position of travel on said track, means for slidably mounting;r said track section at anincline`r means for raising said track. section, means for retaining said. track section in an elevated. positiommeans for releasingl said first mentioned means when said car is received on said track section, and means actuatable'by said carat a certain point of travel on said track whereby said track Vsection mayV be released fromv its elevated position to return under its own weight to its lowermost position.

7. In a mechanical toy of the class described,y an inclined track, a car adapted toshaft, a cable'wound on said drumy and having` operating connection with said vertically slidable; track section, means for locking the shaft in a noir-rotative position against the` .action of said mechanism, ysaid last mentioned means including means engageable by the car upon transfer of the car from said inclined track to said track section whereby said shaft will be actuated to be rotated by said mechanism, and means carried by said shaft and engageable with said drum for im- Y parting rotation to said drum to move said upon transfer of the car from said inclined track to said track section whereby said shaft will be actuated to be rotated by said mechanism, and means carried by said shaft an-d en gageable with said drum for imparting rotation to said drum to move said track section to an elevated position, spring means for normally returning lsaid retaining means inlocked engagement with saidshaft when said shaft has completed one revolution.

9. In a mechanical toy of the class described, an inclined track, a car adapted to travel over said track, a vertically slidable inclined track section, a rotatably supported shaft, mechanism for rotating said shaft, a

drum slidably and rotatably mounted on the shaft, a cable wound on said drum and having Voperating connection with said vertically slidable track section, means for locking .the shaft in a non-rotative position against the action of said mechanism, said last mentioned means including means engageable by the car upon transfer of the car from said inclined track to said vtrack section whereby said shaft will be'actuated tobe rotatedby drum slidably and rotatably mounted on the shaft, a cable wound on said drum and having operating connection with said vertically slidable track section, means for locking the shaft in a non-rotative position against the tioned means including means engageable by the car upon transfer of the car from said inclined track to said track section whereby said shaft will be actuated to be rotated by ysaid mechanism, and means carried by said shaft and engageable with said drum for imparting rotation to said drum to move said track section to an elevated position, spring means for normally returning said retaining A means in lockedengagement with said shaft when said shaft has completed one revolution, and means controllable by said car at a predetermined point of travel of said car on said track for releasing said drum whereby said drum may rotate freelyon said shaft under the control of the weight of said track section, whereby said track section may be moved to a lower position, said last mentioned means including a rock shaft, means operatively connecting said rock yshaft with said drum, said rock shaft having a crank arm disposed therevon and adjacent said track.

In testimony whereof I afHXV my signature.

f YriJLiX J; Hamam?,v

said mechanism, and means carried by said i shaft and engageable with said drum for imparting rotation to said drum to move vsaid track section to an elevated position, spring means for normally returning said retaining i means in locked engagement with said shaft when said shaft has completed one revolution,

and means controllable by said car at a predetermined point of travel of said car on said track for releasing said drum whereby said drinn may rotate freely on said shaft under lthe control of the weight of said track section,

whereby said track section may be moved to aV lower position.

l0. In a mechanical toy of the class described, an inclined track, a car adapted to travel over said track, a vertically slidable inclined track section, a rotatably supported shaft, mechanism f-or rotating said shaft, a

0 action of said mechanism, sai-d last men-` 7 

